Just as Corax's claws pierced a Word Bearers warrior and tore him in half, a heavy punch from Hercules came hurtling toward him.
The force of the punch burst through the air with a piercing howl, compressing the surrounding air into visible ripples.
Corax did not dodge. He took the attack head-on.
He simply stood where he was and let the heavy punch slam into his face.
The fist struck Corax's face with a deep, thunderous crash, like a hammer hitting a steel plate.
A shock wave spread from the point of impact, scattering the surrounding rubble and dust and leaving radial marks across the ground.
Corax's head tipped back slightly under the impact. His body swayed, but he quickly steadied himself.
A few drops of blood fell from the corner of Corax's mouth.
The instant they hit the ground, they turned into black mist and dispersed into the air.
He stuck out his tongue, licked the wound at the corner of his mouth, then gave a contemptuous smile.
"A Primarch Bodyguard, and that's all you amount to." Corax's voice carried a scornful sneer.
His gaze swept over Hercules as though he were looking at an ant that did not know its place.
Boom!
Corax's Talon Blades thrust forward the instant he finished speaking.
They moved faster than Hercules could react. Before Hercules could even withdraw his fist, the Talon Blades were already right in front of him.
Black Chaos energy coiled around the Talon Blades, leaving a distorted trail through the air as they drove straight for Hercules's throat.
Pop!
A crisp sound rang out, as brief and sharp as a bursting bubble.
Hercules vanished from in front of Corax an instant before the Talon Blades struck.
His body became a mass of light and shadow, flickered in the